SPAN Meeting Tomorrow - Rezoning Focus

Saturday the 20th (tomorrow!) is the next Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors meeting. It's at 11 AM, and the topic will be rezoning of Sunset Park. Discussion stemming from their recent screening about Harlem's rezoning will very likely continue. The meeting is at Trinity Lutheran Church on 4th Avenue between 45th and 46th Streets.

SPAN Hosts a Tribute to Human Rights

From the flyer and email, it seems like the screening of "Rezoning Harlem" is the extent of the tribute. The title and sub-title, on the other hand, make it sound like there will be discussion and information session. This tribute is called Housing is a Human Right! Check out the information about the event that's happening tomorrow night.

Housing is a Human Right!

WHAT DOES THE CITY HAVE

PLANNED FOR SUNSET PARK?
The proposed changes in the zoning of Sunset Park threaten

to bring us high rents, luxury condos and much higher rents.

Featuring a screening of
REZONING HARLEM
a film by Tamara Gubernat and Natasha Florentino
Learn about how the current rezoning plan in Harlem will hurt

local small businesses and residents.

Wed. Dec. 10, 2008 6:30 PM
Trinity Lutheran Church
4th Ave bet 45-46 St. Sunset Park, Brooklyn
R Train to 45 St.
Sponsored by the Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors (SPAN)
For more info call 718-853-0949 or email spanbrooklyn@yahoo.com

Refreshments and Childcare will be available

Giving Food (or cash) to Give Thanks

The CB7 Food Drive ended yesterday (although they will accept donations until 2 PM today), and the drive collected about three boxes of food. I'm sure it would have been more if life and activities and the business of the ever-approaching holidays weren't tugging at the minutes and hours of our days. When I dropped stuff off, there wasn't even one box full, so I was glad to hear that three boxes had been filled.

The Center for Family Life will be receiving the CB7 boxes of food for its food pantry located at 5505 4th Avenue. The Salvation Army, at 520 50th Street also provides food to those in need.

Another local food pantry is at Trinity Lutheran Church. The office is at 411 46th Street (corner of 4th Avenue). Trinity accepts donations of non-perishable foods Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Those of us who are not in line for food should feel thankful. I propose we show our thanks by sharing what we have. It sounds goofy and preachy, I know. And I'm preaching to myself as much as to anyone else. But passing by that line of people waiting for food outside Methodist Episcopal/Iglesia Luz del Mundo on 4th and 47th is deeply humbling, especially as a parent. They distribute food on Thursdays from 4:30 PM - 6 PM (or 5:30-7, depending on who is giving information), and there has been a block-long line before 4 PM for many Thursdays.

If you are able to give something during these queasy economic times, please do. Buy two boxes of pasta on sale and give one of them. Pick up a few cans of tuna or a few jars of tomato sauce to donate. How about black beans or baked beans? A bag of rice or some canned fruit? The next time you order in or go out to eat, spend that much on non-perishables to bring over to one of the above locations. Relatively painless to you, helpful to them. Unfortunately, I think the heightened need will be there for a long, long time.

You can search for pantries close to you for donations or receiving help here. The Food Bank of NYC is a great place to make a cash donation as well.

Here are some links to articles/posts about food pantries around Brooklyn and NYC:

Today's Daily News

NewYorkShitty's Great Post about the Soup Kitchen at the Greenpoint Reformed Church

from June Crain's NY Business

NYTimes Articles:

The Executive Director of the NYC Coalition Against Hunger Answers Questions

Pantries and Kitchens are Struggling - this was from a year ago!

Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors

Want to get more involved in Sunset Park? Did the "Demystifying Affordable Housing" session yesterday get you fired up? Well, here's a way you can have a direct impact on action in Sunset: Come to the next Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors meeting.

The next general meeting will be on October 25th at 11 AM. Meetings are held at Trinity Lutheran Church on 4th Avenue between 45th and 46th Streets. The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.